Love Never Hurt Anybody

“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Jeremiah 31:15 NIV)

Everyone is asking the question, "why?"  How does someone point a gun at a 6- or 7-year-old and shoot?  Why, why, why???  The "answers" have been flung fast and furious across Facebook, blogs, news commentaries and personal conversations.  Some say it is lack of gun control.  Some say it is because of the removal of prayer from schools.  Some say violence in our entertainment is to blame.  Or our godless culture, or lack of insurance for the mentally ill.  Maybe it is all of these things combined.  I have a feeling the answer is much more complicated than any one thing.

But the basic reason this happened is that one man, with a deep hurting anger in his heart used his free will to do this awful, awful thing.

We cannot remove deep, hurting anger from every person who feels it.  But perhaps we can be a part of the solution by being a little less selfish in our personal lives, in our business lives, in our financial affairs and in our political opinions.  We tend to do what is best for "me and mine" rather than what is best for society as a whole.

I don't pretend to begin to know the source of this young man's anger, but it was obviously there.  I don't know if he would have still done this if he lived in a kinder, more caring world.  But maybe if we all looked into the eyes of those we see everyday with a compassionate heart, we may see hurt and anger we didn't know was there.  We might be able to reach out a hand in love.  Maybe, just maybe love and compassion could prevent just one senseless act of violence.  We may never know if we prevent it, but who cares?  Love never hurt anybody.

Below is a prayer by Max Lucado entitled, "A Christmas Prayer."

Dear Jesus,  

It’s a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us. 

Hopefully,  Your Children